Stainless steel cylinders and automating meat processing

SMC’s Head of OEM & Key Accounts Australia and New Zealand, Tony Randall, looks at how stainless steel cylinders can be used with confidence in the meat processing industry.

“The meat, poultry and seafood market faces many challenges when it comes to process automation,” commented Randall. “Not only is it notoriously an industry which requires rigorous cleaning and you always have the water factor to consider, it is also an industry which needs robust solutions to handle the working environment.”

Furthermore, Randall comments on the huge effects of productivity losses in this industry, which has very high hygiene standards, and the accompanying loss of turnover when a breakdown on the production line occurs.

According to Randall, the SMC’s CG5-S and CJ5-S series of stainless steel cylinders are suitable for use in food processing machinery that requires regular and intense cleaning. Both cylinder series make use of food-grade grease, which reduces the risk of contamination. The bracket surfaces that are used to mount these cylinders are electropolished to make them smoother so that the build-up of liquids and foreign matter can be prevented. 

“An increased customer demand for products which meet not only the high hygienic standards of the food industry, but is also maintenance-free and robust, has long been coming in the industry,” added Randall.

The series CG5-S stainless steel cylinder is available in eight bore sizes, from 20 up to 100 mm, and has design features such as plugs for unused mounting threads (to prevent residue build-up in the threads) and the use of stainless steel (SUS304) on external metal parts to provide improved corrosion resistance in environments with exposure to water.

The series CJ5-S is the small bore version, available in 10 and 16 mm bore sizes, and is designed for use in environments with water spray (such as food processing machines). Both cylinders have a scraper that has been specifically designed to prevent water from entering the cylinder, which can increase the service life by up to five times when compared to conventional cylinders.

The service life of both the CG5-S and CJ5-S cylinders can be extended as they are designed to be easily disassembled to allow for the replacement of seals.

By providing quality products which are designed to meet strict health and safety standards, corrosion resistant and able to reduce maintenance and replacement costs, SMC continues to be recognised as a global technology leader in industrial automation.

“The stainless steel range of cylinders from SMC will outlast and outperform any conventional pneumatic cylinder in these conditions,” concluded Randall.